Among the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra from the mid-20th century onward were the great bassoonist Bernie Garfield and the Romanian cellist and composer Marcel Farago. Both born in 1924 — Garfield in Brooklyn and Farago in Timișoara, Romania — they shared their lives within one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and collaborated on the creation of two of Farago’s works: the Phantasy, Op. 40, on a theme by Niccolò Paganini, and the Variations, Op. 51, on Arcangelo Corelli’s La Follia for solo bassoon.

The composer wrote:

“The Fantasy for bassoon came to life thanks to Bernie Garfield, to whom it is dedicated, and who helped me by advising mostly about the possibilities and impossibilities of the bassoon. To me, it was the greates challenge to write for one instrument alone, an instrument I did not know well enough. Its success is to be given to Bernie.”

Bernie Garfield lived to the age of one hundred and left a profound mark on the world of bassoon playing. Among the many honors he received throughout his distinguished career were the Lifetime Achievement Award from New York University, an honorary degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, and honorary membership in the International Double Reed Society. His constant pursuit of perfection, elegance, and exquisite artistry places him among the greatest bassoonists in the world. His multifaceted legacy will continue to resonate forever.